Nigel Farage has said that he is ‘thoughtful’ when asked if the UK should consider bringing back Shamima Begum, who left the country to join the Islamic State group in 2015.
The Reform UK leader said that ‘instinctively’ it is not something he would want to do but he is ‘now thoughtful’ about the matter.
His comments come after Donald Trump‘s incoming counter-terrorism chief called for the repatriation of British members of the so-called Islamic State being held in Syrian prison camps.
Earlier this week, Sebastian Gorka said that any nation that wishes to be seen as a ‘serious ally’ of the US should commit to the international fight against the extremist group by taking back citizens currently in the north east of Syria.
Speaking to ITV News at Reform’s South East England conference, Mr Farage said that ‘it’s very difficult for us to think we should take back people, Shamima Begum and others’ and ‘instinctively, it’s not something I want to do’.
When asked whether he thought the UK should consider such a move, he said: ‘I’ve never wanted to. I’ve instinctively never wanted to.
‘But I’m now thoughtful. I’m thoughtful. I don’t classify her as an Isis, an all-out Isis killer.’
Mr Farage said that he believes her to be ‘a lesser part of the equation’.
Shamima Begum was 15 when she travelled from Bethnal Green, east London, into territory controlled by IS in 2015
The Reform UK leader said that ‘instinctively’ it is not something he would want to do but he is ‘now thoughtful’ about the matter
Ms Begum was ‘married off’ to an IS fighter and was stripped of her British citizenship in February 2019
Ms Begum was 15 when she travelled from Bethnal Green, east London, into territory controlled by IS in 2015.
She was ‘married off’ to an IS fighter and was stripped of her British citizenship in February 2019.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said that a Conservative government with her as leader ‘will never take back’ Ms Begum.
She added: ‘Citizenship means committing to a country and wanting its success. It’s not an international travel document for crime tourism.’
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said that Ms Begum ‘will not be coming back to the UK’.
Speaking to Good Morning Britain on Thursday, he said: ‘It’s gone right through the courts. She’s not a UK national. We will not be bringing her back to the UK. We’re really clear about that.’
‘We will act in our security interests. And many of those in those camps are dangerous, are radicals.’
In an interview with The Times, Mr Gorka said: ‘Any nation which wishes to be seen to be a serious ally and friend of the most powerful nation in the world should act in a fashion that reflects that serious commitment’ when asked if the UK should be forced to accept Isis members back.
‘That is doubly so for the UK which has a very special place in President Trump’s heart and we would all wish to see the ‘special relationship’ fully re-established.’
It comes as Farage also faced questions over his position on Tommy Robinson which has caused a fued with Elon Musk.
Mr Musk on Sunday called for Mr Farage to be replaced as Reform leader, after he refused to follow the X owner and Mr Trump aide in calling for Robinson – real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – to be freed.
Speaking to Sky News, Mr Farage revealed he has spoken with Mr Musk following and when asked if they are still friends, he responded: ‘Of course we’re friends. He just says what he thinks at any moment in time.’
He said the pair have ‘been in touch’ but did not go into detail about the conversation saying ‘look, he said lots of supportive things. He said one thing that wasn’t supportive. I mean, that’s just the way it is.’
Speaking to the MailOnline earlier this week, Mr Farage said: ‘I am sorry that Elon disagrees and I doubt that he knows the full story about Robinson, my principles are clear and I don’t change them for anyone. Extremism is not welcome in Reform’.
He went on: ‘I am the leader of Reform UK and we are growing fast and trying to win the next general election. This man would not be an asset to our party and we do believe in the rule of law. No former BNP members are welcome in our party’.
Despite the disagreement, Mr Farage remained confident Mr Musk ‘may well’ still give money to the Reform party.
Elon Musk called for Mr Farage to be replaced as Reform leader, after he refused to follow the X owner and Donald Trump aide in calling for Robinson – real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – to be freed
Robinson is serving an 18-month prison sentence for contempt of court over social media messages about a teenage migrant, which began in October
Asked whether losing Mr Musk’s support would weaken Reform UK, Mr Farage said: ‘Not having Elon’s support would damage us with that younger generation because he kind of makes us look cool, so I’m being frank about that and I am confident that whatever has been said, we can mend. I really think we can.’
It was reported yesterday that a dozen Reform UK councillors have given notice of their intention to resign in protest over Mr Farage’s leadership after Mr Musk described the politician as ‘not up to the job’.
Councillors have alleged that the party was being run in an ‘autocratic manner’ and accused Mr Farage of ‘disloyalty’ to long-term members, according to the Guardian.
The 12 councillors – who collectively hold two district council seats, nine town council seats and five parish council seats – are all from Derbyshire and include Alex Stephenson, who came second in Amber Valley during the general election.
Farage claimed on Thursday, however, that the resignations were from an ‘out-of-control branch’ and involved a number of councillors who had failed Reform UK vetting.
While on LBC radio on January 7 he was asked whether losing his support of Mr Musk would weaken Reform UK, he said: ‘Not having Elon’s support would damage us with that younger generation because he kind of makes us look cool, so I’m being frank about that and I am confident that whatever has been said, we can mend. I really think we can.’
He added: ‘It’s not crucial. I mean look, if I was to embrace, as it looks like I was being urged to do, the sort of violent thuggish people like (Tommy) Robinson, that would do our party immense harm, and probably rightly so.
‘So the fact that I’ve stood up on a point of principle, even if in the short term its to my detriment, in the long run may even work in our favour.’
